Getting Ordained. Is Online Ordination Actually Legal? How to Know if Your Ordination is Legit!

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Episode Description:
Are you wondering how to get ordained so that you can perform a marriage? Maybe you want to start officiating weddings and even make it into a business. Well, I want to set the record straight and show you exactly how to know if your ordination is actually legal.
Can you actually marry someone and sign the marriage license according to the laws in your state? I have some resources that will lead you to the state law so that you can understand the exact requirements for you to be legally ordained.
Check your state requirements and laws here:
theamm.org/weddings-by-state
1:15 - Definition of ordination
1:54 - How do you get ordained?
3:00 - What does the law in your state say?
3:08 - Some states require more
3:18 - Resources to help
4:39 - Contact your local government
6:05 - Understand all of the legalities of marriage
DISCLAIMER:
**I am not a lawyer. I am an officiant and business coach and this video is not legal advice.**
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[@charlesdavis9937]

I was ordained online by a church. I resigned for 2 reasons. One I don't think I was called to be a minister. Two, they were in it for the money.

[@mayram-haspil4897]

Very important info. Thank you!! ❤

[@GrowMyOfficiantBusiness]

You're very welcome!

[@CibusMission]

Hi Chad! I wanted to let everyone know that Cibus Mission can do online ordinations! We do trainings for places like North Carolina and Virginia or others. We use the funds to help with our Community hunger relief outreach programs and we try to make it more affordable than AMM or ULC.

[@loveandwisdominc]

Hey there, I'm curious about your ordination. I see on your site that it says "NC requires Training," can you explain what that means and where that information came from? I'm not trying to challenge you, I just want to make sure I'm fully aware of everything regarding NC marriage licensing laws. Thank you for your time! @cibusmission

[@CibusMission]

@@loveandwisdominc Hi @loveandwisdominc We actually check each state and in so doing found out the laws and regulations and online ordination according to how certain laws within the state is interpreted has been considered ineligible to be a wedding officiant, based on the "instant ordination" of the online ordination process. So in order to avoid this situation from taking place we have required additional training (a zoom call for an hour and annual renewal with training, letter of good standing indicating training has taken place and requirements for renewal) in order to complete the requirements so that the can not say that you have not been properly trained. We prefer to be safe rather than have an unfortunate reality discovered at the time of the ceremony (or worse, after the ceremony has been preformed!) Here are my sources (granted this was back in 2019, but through certain FB groups commentary, we discovered that this situation still exists today): civil.sog.unc.edu/marriages-solemnized-in-north-carolina-by-universal-life-church-ministers-are-not-valid/ and www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article234470822.html

[@GrowMyOfficiantBusiness]

Thanks so much!

[@loveandwisdominc]

Hi Chad, thanks for providing this valuable information! I just wanted to add that the written law can't always be taken at face value because case law ultimately determines the rulings in specific cases. I was involved in a NC case in 2018 where the judge ruled that I was not qualified to solemnize marriages in NC due to my Universal Life Church ordination which had "no requirements other than submitting one's name and contact information." However, the written law does not indicate this, and the ULC website said that it was legit so I believed that to my demise. My case was determined based on a precedent case from 1980 (State v. Lynch). Since then I have become somewhat of an expert in marriage laws in NC since I run a team of professional wedding officiants full-time. If any questions come up regarding this issue in NC, I would be happy to help so just let me know. Thanks again! ~Philip Lingle, Founding Officiant, Love & Wisdom Inc.

[@christophervandroff8364]

How did you overcome that issue? Did you go get ordained by a different organization?

[@GrowMyOfficiantBusiness]

Thank you! Yes I'm constantly answering this regarding North Carolina and Virginia as many people try to go through ULC. North Carolina will not uphold a ULC ordination, and more are jumping on board and do require training beyond just filling out a free form on a website when getting ordained. Unfortunately ULC and several others that are not actual churches or religious 501c3 organizations Do not tell people up front the issues they've had. ULC, I'm sure you know, has been challenged more than five times by the IRS on their tax exempt status. Thanks for the comment very good info.

[@drevil5546]

@@GrowMyOfficiantBusinessThey recently won a case in Tennessee where a law that they had wouldn't uphold a ULC officiant. Have you tried to contact them? What specific of that case made the case law rule against you? The part that I read is that the case dealt with bigamy, being already married when trying to marry again.

[@kingjameswilliamhowitt]

Church and state, first amendment, since marriages are a holey. states will be violating the first Amendment, but however according to tax reasons you have to go to a county/state town village clerk you have to fill out paper work saying you are married for tax reasons. I am an ordained minister in NYS.

[@GrowMyOfficiantBusiness]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@thedoover6520]

I’ve noticed that many officiants are pairing their ordination with being a notary. Is this because notaries are recognized in states/counties that don’t recognize online ordination?

[@GrowMyOfficiantBusiness]

That's a great question! One of the reasons is that Florida, Montana, Maine, Nevada, South Carolina and Tennessee already recognize notaries as legally authorized to perform weddings. Many notaries decide to become Officiants to increase their service offerings in these states. Every county can have a different requirement and while some have extra steps to become an authorized officiant, most will accept online ordination.

[@thedoover6520]

@@GrowMyOfficiantBusiness I was researching if Tennessee allowed online ordination officiants. The information is conflicting. I assumed they were trying to make it illegal to prevent same sex marriages. Then I wondered if notaries are protected. I think you know where I’m going with my line of thinking.

[@GrowMyOfficiantBusiness]

@@thedoover6520 This is a very interesting topic and I'd love to discuss more. I'm all about learning and figuring things out even if it means talking to a legal expert. If you are up for it, email me at [e-mail] and let's chat about it. Thanks a bunch!

[@davidvasquez6231]

I'm in California what would this require?

[@GrowMyOfficiantBusiness]

Hi David! Visit this website and check out the legal requirements to become an officiant in California. theamm.org/weddings-by-state/california/officiant-registration-requirements American Marriage Ministries keeps an up-to-date web page with all of the states and their requirements. I hope this helps... let me know if there's anything else I can help you with!

[@1RedShinobi]

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